Palazzo Madama today is the seat of the Civic Museum of Ancient Art but this wonderful building built on the ruins of an ancient Roman gate was a fortress, a castle (as evidenced by the rear facade with medieval towers) and residence of two "Madame Reali", Maria Cristina of France and Jeanne of Savoy-Nemours, under whose regency the building was enlarged and embellished.

In particular, in 1718 Filippo Juvarra, architect of the House of Savoy, designed and built the great western façade and the imposing staircase of honor, an undisputed masterpiece of the Baroque.